Fear has big eyes
Places where we can meet ghosts or demons have probably always attracted people. Dark legends aroused curiosity and the desire to check them personally. On the one hand, we want to feel the thrill, see the unknown, and at the same time see if the stories are true. Colin Dickey decided to do what many only dream of and travel the length and breadth of the United States to see how much truth there is in ghost stories. So there was, among other in Amityville, Mrs. Winchester’s house, Salem, Graceland Cemetery, the House of the Seven Gables and Kirkbride Psychiatric Hospital. Thanks to this, he created an extraordinary book, or rather a reportage, Ghostland. America and its haunted places. He approached the subject in a very matter-of-fact way, bringing us closer to the history of each of the visited places, explaining what, according to the stories, is haunting in them and where the legend came from. Then he presented how it really was and what was really feared, or how cleverly a lie was concocted to attract tourists or to gain other benefits from alleged hauntings. Because at this point it should be added that the author did not believe in any of the legends and disassembled them all to prove that supernatural forces do not exist. So if you’re looking for classic horror, or something like books about the lives of Ed and Lorraine Warren, we warn you that you have come to the wrong place. This title makes it clear to us that fear only has big eyes, and while many terrible crimes have obviously happened, the souls of the victims do not wander around homes and cemeteries and do no harm to mortals who have entered their territory.
An interesting trip
So you won’t encounter ghosts in Ghostland , and it won’t be scary either. Which does not mean that it will be boring! The author brings us to famous places in a matter-of-fact and concrete way, and the reader feels as if he actually went on a trip with him, or at least watched a TV documentary. We owe it to the style of writing. There are no inconsistencies, unnecessary pauses or understatements. Each point of our trip is discussed from beginning to end, and only after the end do we move on. Thanks to this, we will not get lost in all this, and it will be easier for us to come back to something later.
The Polish publisher, Wydawnictwo Literackie , should also be commended . The translation is very good, and the proofreading did its job. There are no typos or punctuation errors. The appropriate font was also selected, thanks to which the whole reads smoothly and pleasantly. The cover itself is simple, but still catches the eye and somehow reflects the content of the book.
Finally, a small remark that cannot be considered a minus, but we are certainly dealing with a certain lack here. Namely, photos of the described places would be useful. Of course, in the era of universal access to the Internet, searching for, for example, Worcester State Hospital will take us literally a moment, but placing the picture directly in the book would not distract us from reading and would allow us to imagine the discussed area even better.
Is America’s Haunted Places Worth Visiting?
Colin Dickey’s Ghostland will not appeal to everyone. People who believe in paranormal phenomena will probably reject the author’s attempts to explain that ghosts do not exist and that behind every legend there is a lie or an overactive imagination. Also people looking for books in the horror genre will avoid this title. However, all those who would like to check what is behind the stories about ghosts will be able to discover the truth and in some way move to the described regions. Also those who like to read reports or are interested in US history will be satisfied. You can be sure that if you belong to one of the last mentioned groups, you will be completely hooked by this title!
